Harpy

The Magi were able to keep some creatures under their control and the Harpies were one of them. Their skills and strength allowed them to be one of the best as border patrol. With the borders under such a careful watch, no one could make it past easily.

The air is cool on the harpy's face and the pure bliss and the wind lacing itself through her feathers made all the troubles and problems of this wretched world seem far away. very few come to the border of the dark lands so the job of keeping the peace is simple as can be. Just fly around and snatch up anyone dumb enough to try. However, all of the harpies wonder what lies beyond the dark lands. Beyond the discarded buildings and clouded wastelands.

"Nonsense. You have a job to do now do it." she scolded herself.

The familiar scent of human creeps into the harpy's nose. A sigh of both relief, boredom, and annoyance, escapes her lips as she dives down. As she dove for the ground she saw no. She tried to follow the scent but it seemed to surround her. Confused and suddenly scared she rocketed to the skies to avoid any mishaps.

She began to circle the area searching for the source. She perched on a cliff nearby to listen and watch for the intruders. For nearly an hour she sat on that cliff occasionally smelling the air. The intrusive smell of human stayed strong in that hour as she sat.

Gathering her courage she swooped down low to the ground to look for the source of the smell. Finding herself looking at the ground while perched on a rock. Befuddlement plagued her mind for a time as she observed the many footprints in the dirt. Realization struck as she tried to the skies as quickly as possible but not before she was captured and brought back to the ground.

Ropes surround her body as four men tie her down. None of these men were particularly small but they weren’t all that large either. Once the ropes were secure two of them brought her down from the rock and gagged her. “We have some questions that we need to be answered. Nod for yes, shake for no. Do you understand?”

Trying to preserve her own life the captured harpy vigorously nodded. The men all looked at each other ready to be done with this as much as she was.

“Could we make it to the castle on our own?” he asked.

That’s not an easy question and I think you boys know that. It’s been an hour so you would have to be incredibly mentally strong to make it without going totally nuts from the black magic and it doesn’t help that the closer you get to the castle the stronger the magic and the harder it is to resist insanity. Overall it’s a solid maybe to make it in one piece mentally and physically.

Once she thought it over, she nodded knowing it was possible but not likely.

“It isn’t likely we would make it back though, huh?”

She looked at him and shook her head.

Another man piped up “We have to try, Charlie. If we don’t who will?”

The man referred to as Charlie nodded “I agree but we will need to work quickly and silently if we’re to have a chance. Am I right harpy?”

She nodded once again scared of what they would do next. He shifted to be facing her more directly. “I’m sorry to have to do this, but I will thank you for your help.”

He reeled back his fist and she closed her eyes just accepting her fate. One solid hit on her jaw put her out for the count.

Sometime later she woke up. It was nearly dark so a few hours had gone by since the four men were captured and questioned. The realization hit her and she checked herself to notice that all the rope was gone from her limbs and body. She stood ready to take to the skies again.

She climbed several dozen feet before thinking back to the humans. Her curiosity was sparked again.

Many come looking for information but the insanity is so intense, runs so deep that remembering to write their history. There may be secret archives somewhere but no one knows where they are nor do any of the Magi care to find them. For these lunatics, finding their “true master" is all that seems to matter.

Making an executive decision she took off for the human world ready to lead a life she chose not what the Magi chose for her.